The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1887-10-08

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VOL. 90.
The RObeFtsOnYIlle LeTee.
Very much to our regret the LeYee
Commissioners Of our Levee District
have concluded not to raise the money
necessary, with the Federal appropria-
ton, to build the RObertsonville Levee
but have determined to repair it for the
season. Taking President Whites re-
port, which we commented ON last week,
this looks ike YazoO might have the
pleasure of an overflow next spring,
though we fervently hope no such cal
amity will occur.
We understand that both Engineer
Dabney of our Levee Board. and Uni
ted States Engineer Leach, stated that
it would now be too late to do the work
necessary to build new levee and
would make the danger greater.
This suggests to our mind that a
good deal of valuable time has been
wasted since the Federal appropriation
was made. -Yazoo Herald.
The Herald's criticism is natural. The
following is Engineer Dabney's report
submitted at the meeting September
sth last, describing the leyee in ques-
ton:
Col. I. w. : WHITE, President
Levee Board:
DEAR SIR I'm accordance with
your instructions, l have made an
examination of the Robertson.
vile front and have located a line
for a new levee covering the
threatened part of the existing
one, of which q map and profile
are submitted herewith. The new
line is 1880 feet in length, and, as
indicated by the profile, the, work
will be exceptionally heavy.
The following is an approximate
estimate of the quality of work
and probable cost:
(Cubic Yards.
Embankment 4S6,372
Muck ditch l2,56S
Road crossing, $1,000
Banquets, 1000
Total, 5OS,O4C
Ofthis the cost is thus estimated
Channel crossings, 100,72S
cubic yds. CSC. s2S,263 "a
Other work, 4O7, cub. yds.
23c. 90, 072 5t
Clearing. grubbing, etc., $3.50 OF
Sodding 2l4,230 yards l, COG 7.
Total estimated cost S126,033 l.
The line recently located varies
IN distance from the present river
bank from 1000 feet to 2700 feet
l consider it desirable to so 10.
cate that the least distance should
be 2500 feet from the river, but
the character of the ground is
such that this would involve O
great increase of cost and 80 the
idea was abandoned.
1t will be seen by inspecting the
map that the existing levee ii
threatened at various points Oh
this front with the danger of one
or more breaches by caving into
the river, which is uncomfortably
close to the levee for an extent o.
two and a half miles.
The most threatened points arc
at the upper and lower extremi
ties of the exposed front. AT the
upper end a salient angle of the
levee ia only 50 feet from the river
bank, measured from the base Of
the levee. The caving at this par
ticular spot has been less active
than at points above and below
for several years past, owing to
tho superior resisting powers Of
the formation composing the bank
and 1t is probable that it will re
sist the current during another
season.
But the cavlpg is quite capri
cious in this locality, making sud
denly deep pockets where they
cannot be foreseen nor guarded
against. In some cases a hun
dred feet or more in depth in a few
days when the river is very high.
| think therefore that the levee al
this point is in dangerous proximi
ty to the river bakk.
AT the lower extremity the point
in most immediate danger is al
New Hope landing. Here the
river bank is 1856 feet from the base
of the levee, but fully that width
of ground caved into the river du
ring last season, and the same rate
of cavlng has beer going on fol
several years past
Iconsider that there is very
grave danger that a breach in the
existing levee will occur at this
point during next high water. and
in view of the exposed condition
of this front throughout its ex
tent / recommend that a leyee be
constructed on the new line be
fore another high water period
If this is deemed nmpracticablC
on account of financial difficulties
| regard it as imperatively neces
sary for safety that q short line b'
constructed behind the New Hope
salient, and think it desirable tha
similar protection be provided foi
the upper salient also.
The New Hope work will cos
about $1,000, and the upper worl
about $4,000. These expenditure
will of course be only temporar.
pynpdinnts. mud thn monev ao ex